What is Dysgraphia and How Can OTs Help?

Michaela Brunner
Sep 20
2 min read

Handwriting is more than just putting words on paper — it’s a complex skill involving motor coordination, spatial awareness, and language processing. Dysgraphia is a specific learning difficulty that affects writing ability, and it can cause frustration for both children and adults. Here’s how Mindful Beings Occupational Therapy can help.

Understanding dysgraphia

Dysgraphia isn’t about laziness or lack of intelligence. It’s a neurological condition that makes writing physically difficult, mentally exhausting, or both. Symptoms can include:

Illegible handwriting.
Inconsistent letter sizes and spacing.
Slow writing speed.
Difficulty with spelling or organising thoughts on paper.
Physical discomfort when writing.

How does it affect daily life?

In school, dysgraphia can make note-taking, assignments, and exams challenging. At home, it may affect homework, making lists, or even signing documents. Without support, it can impact confidence and academic progress.

How OTs assess dysgraphia

At Mindful Beings Occupational Therapy, we start with a comprehensive assessment. This might involve:

Observing posture, pencil grip, and writing endurance.
Testing fine motor skills and hand strength.
Looking at visual-motor integration and spatial awareness.
Reviewing written samples to identify patterns.

The therapy strategies we use

Building fine motor strength Activities like putty exercises, tweezers games, and hand tools improve the muscles used for writing.
Improving letter formation and spacing We use multi-sensory methods — tracing in sand, writing with textured tools, or using apps — to make learning more engaging.
Adjusting the writing environment This can include pencil grips, sloped writing boards, or changing paper type.
Teaching alternative methods For some students, we recommend typing, speech-to-text software, or audio recording for longer tasks.
Developing planning and sequencing skills Breaking writing into steps — brainstorming, outlining, drafting — to reduce overwhelm.

Clinic and mobile services as needed

Most therapy for dysgraphia happens in our clinic, where we have the right tools and a quiet environment for focused work. If strategies need to be applied at home or school, our mobile service supports real-life application.

With the right support, children and adults with dysgraphia can build skills, reduce frustration, and express themselves more confidently in writing.